Feeder - London Highbury Garage - 25/11/02
4/5
By: Andy Willson
Set-List: 'Come Back Around', 'Insomnia', 'We Can't Rewind',
'Just The Way I'm Feeling', 'Forget About Tomorrow', 'Helium', 'Quick Fade', 'Summer's Gone', 'Child In You', 'Godzilla', 'Changes', 'High'. ENCORE, 'Buck Rogers', 'Just A Day'.
Twelve months in this business often proves a very long time - just ask Hear'Say, or even Will Young in a year's time - with the decisions that you make throughout enough to change your world forever.
Suitably, there are many bands that would have quite easily called it a day after losing a close friend and colleague in such circumstances that Feeder found themselves embroiled within. Jon Lee, a founder and integral member of the trio, may have tragically moved on, but his spirit will live on through his two band-mates, Grant and Taka, and the music they continue to make; certainly, this year's much-lauded Reading Festival appearance was an emotional experience for them, but the past has now been laid to rest as a new chapter in the Feeder story begins.
Somewhat returning to grass-roots several notches by making a showing at the decidedly confined premises of the London Garage tonight, Feeder's eagerly-awaited set starts with a denim-clad Grant Nicholas apologising for looking like Darius (rightly so), and the act immediately crash into current single, 'Come Back Around', leaving all ears affirmatively ringing. Predictably soon after, most of tonight's tracks continue to be lifted from their latest highly-acclaimed 'Comfort in Sound' LP, all of which proves re-moulded in the live-arena to an improbably fearsome attack.
Thankfully, there's enough room for a few old favourites, too, neatly sandwiched between the newer matter. Somewhere along the journey, we are informed that the band haven't played at the present venue since 1996, when things were originally first starting to take off; rewardingly, the intimate surroundings of the venue only merely accentuate the sound and atmosphere, all attendees having earnt their place via competitions on the band's official website and London's main-stayer alternative-station, Xfm.
Professionally, the mood-swings incurred are estimably riotous, fusing from the mental dementia of 'Insomnia' and 'Helium' to mellow moodiness of 'Summer's Gone' and 'Quick Fade', the latter Grant dedicates to producer and friend, Gil Norton. It looks as though we are in for an early bath as all are told that the anthemic 'High' will be the last song tonight, but after plenty of the customary cheering, chanting and clapping, the boys re-emerge from the wings and whip everyone into a frenzy, encoring with their largest hits to date - 'Buck Rogers' and a final 'Just a Day'. Triumph, indeed.
In the past, they may have been criticised about the lyrical nature of their songs, but with more emotions suddenly being put to paper as opposed to once eyebrow-raising utterances of indulging cider from a lemon, the transition to the next level is now complete. Feeder have always known how to rock, and this evening they do not disappoint. As the place empties and the lights come back on, peace descends on Highbury once again... A tragedy, really.
Artists in this article: Feeder
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